New Orleans Hornets Fans Can Start Dreaming About…

arcasecedDouppyNalo — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:43:16 +0000

Without question, the Hornets got a better deal from the Clippers than they would have from the Lakers/Rockets. We examined both deals last week, but there’s been a slight change, so here’s a quick comparison, with what New Orleans got on the left vs. what they could have gotten on right:

Kaman vs. Scola – Statistically, Scola is a better player, but Kaman is more coveted because he’s an expiring contract. Scola, 32, has four more years on his deal.
Gordon vs. Martin - One could argue statistically they are even, but Gordon is six years younger and much cheaper.
Aminu vs. Odom – No doubt Odom is the better player. Aminu will come off the bench for the Hornets, but he has considerable upside.
Minnesota’s Draft pick vs. the Knicks’ Draft pick – No contest. Knicks are a top 5 team in the East, perhaps as high as three. (see below for further details)
nothing vs. Goran Dragic – Slight edge to the Houston/LA part of the deal.

How quickly can the Hornets turn things around? I’m projecting them to be one of the five worst teams in the NBA next year:

Cleveland – Far too young, not enough talent
Detroit – No direction whatsoever
Charlotte – Offensively challenged, but I love what the future holds
New Orleans
Sacramento - Devoid of defense, but probably will be fun to watch offensively

[Note: A case could be made for the Raptors, or Orlando if Dwight Howard gets traded, or maybe even Phoenix.]

The Timberwolves? Minnesota really is a wild card. There’s actual talent on the roster – Kevin Love, the NBA’s leading rebounder; Michael Beasley averaged 19 ppg – I like the JJ Barea addition, and they have youth (Ricky Rubio! Derrick Williams!). When NBA predictions start rolling in, I think you’ll see perhaps the widest disparity of any team in the league. I could understand a 20-46 guess but also a 40-26 prediction.

If the Timberwolves happen to be incredible and go 48-22 or something absurd, and Chris Paul and Blake Griffin both go down for the season with injuries and the Clippers stink … the draft pick the Hornets get will be LA’s. They get the better draft pick from Minnesota or Los Angeles.

Since Hornets’ fans don’t have much optimism about the 2011-2012 season, let’s look at the 2012 draft.

Just for fun, let’s eliminate Anthony Davis from this discussion. Right now, it appears the Kentucky forward be the No. 1 pick in the draft, and I don’t think the Hornets will have the worst record in the league (with Bledsoe instead of Gordon, they might have). These players are expected to come out and I think they’ll be in the 2-11 range in the 2012 draft.

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, SF
Austin Rivers, Duke, G
Terrence Jones, Kentucky, SF
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, PF
Andre Drummond, Connecticut, PF
Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut, SG
Perry Jones, Baylor, SF
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky, SF
Brad Beal, Florida, SG
Thomas Robinson, Kentucky, PF

The Hornets get two of those players to pair with Eric Gordon? Wow. How about Andre Drummond to go next to Okafor (that fierce Connecticut tandem would block plenty of shots), and Austin Rivers to go in the backcourt with Gordon? Rivers-Gordon-Ariza-Drummond-Okafor?

Or would you rather have Harrison Barnes at small forward, and Thomas Robinson at power forward? I wouldn’t even rule out a guy like Jeremy Lamb because he plays the same position as Gordon. Who knows if Gordon will want to sign an extension with the Hornets? How about Louisiana native Perry Jones and Jared Sullinger? Talk about immediate improvement. It’s coming.

Yes, I think it’ll be more entertaining for Hornets’ fans to watch college hoops and scout their two potential lottery picks than the team New Orleans will field this season.

What do you guys think about this.

New Orleans Hornets’ options at No. 45 in the NBA draft are limited

rimakostope — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:17:00 +0000

With no plans to move up into the first round of the NBA draft with a trade, Hornets General Manager Dell Demps is hoping to select a player tonight in the second round that can provide help next season.

But stuck with the 45th pick, Demps might have difficulty finding what he wants from this year’s class, which isn’t considered to be deep in talent.

Demps said New Orleans is targeting five players, hoping one will be on the board when the Hornets select.

“I just don’t know if we want to acquire a pick for a developmental situation,’’ Demps said. “I think we’re in a situation where we’re not trying to rebuild, we’re trying to reload. We want to grow off of what we did last year.’’

The Hornets, under first-year coach Monty Williams, made the playoffs this past season after missing out on the postseason a year ago. They lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

New Orleans doesn’t have a first-round pick after sending it to the Portland Trail Blazers last October to obtain guard Jerryd Bayless, who the Hornets eventually traded to the Toronto Raptors for guard Jarrett Jack.

The last time the Hornets had the 45th pick was in 2004, when they selected Florida State guard Tim Pickett, who was waived.

“At 45, it’s a risk,’’ Demps said. “The majority of guys don’t have the impact in the NBA. Hopefully, we can find someone that can help us next year.’’

There hasn’t been a player selected at 45 to make an NBA roster since 2008, when the San Antonio Spurs picked Slovenia point guard Goran Dragic. The Spurs traded Dragic to the Phoenix Suns, and he played last season with the Houston Rockets.

Demps didn’t the name the players they are targeting, but prospects who might be available when the Hornets select include Syracuse power forward Rick Jackson, Florida small forward Chandler Parsons — the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year last season — Marquette shooting guard Jimmy Butler and Wisconsin power forward Jon Leuer.

“There are a lot of sleepers out there,’’ said Ryan Blake, the NBA director of scouting. “You are going to have a lot of good players in that mix.’’

Demps didn’t rule out drafting an international player and retaining his rights while he develops overseas.

“You look at some of the skills sets and you think, ‘What can a guy do that can work in your system,’ ’’ Demps said. “You still look and see if that guy can fit.’’

Demps said they are not targeting a specific position in the draft, though their greatest needs appear to be at shooting guard and center. There’s uncertainty at the power forward spot because David West hasn’t decided if he will opt out of his contract. His replacement last season, Carl Landry, is a free agent.

But in the draft, Demps said, New Orleans wants to land a player that can defend and complement its core players.

“It could be a shooting guard, a shot-blocker, anyone who can complement our core,’’ he said.

What do you guys think about this.

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New Orleans Hornets Fans Can Start Dreaming About…

New Orleans Hornets’ options at No. 45 in the NBA draft are limited